Elucidating the chemical nature and time-dependent evolution of photoexcited states in semiconductor catalysts is critical for understanding the surface photochemistry of these materials. Tabletop XUV spectroscopy based on high harmonic generation (HHG) has the potential to provide this information in real time because it probes element specific core-to-valence transitions, is sensitive to element oxidation and spin states, and is ultrafast due to the short pulse durations produced by HHG. To expand this technique to the study of surface electron dynamics in catalytic materials, we have recently developed XUV reflection-absorption (RA) spectroscopy. This method is surface sensitive, having a measured probe depth of only a few nm. Here we combine this recently developed technique with optical transient absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations to provide a detailed picture of electron dynamics in CuFeO2, a widely studied earth-abundant photocathode material for CO2 reduction.

Surface electron dynamics in CuFeO2 catalysts studied by ultrafast XUV spectroscopy

255th National Meeting (2018)

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